Ten Tips on Writing Music

Write the Lyrics for Your Song
Many musicians write their own melodies as well as the lyrics. If
you already have lyrics, consider them when writing your melody. Some
questions to ask yourself before composing the music are: What words do I
want to focus on? Are there note lengths or timing that will
accommodate certain words better than others will?

Consider the following line: I DROVE my CAR down the HIGHWAY. The
emphasized words DROVE, CAR and HIGHWAY give the listener an idea of
what is going on, even if these are the only words they hear. On the
other hand, if you sing the same line but emphasize different words: I
drove MY car DOWN THE highway. The listener might have no idea what
you're singing about.

You can emphasize words with a louder note, changing the note
itself, a longer note or including a rest before or after the note.
Experiment with your song and see what sounds the best.

Listen to and Learn from Other Composers
There is something to be learned from every single musician or band
out there. Listen to how your favorite musicians construct their
songs-examine the style, the tone, how different instruments work
together and so on and so forth. You can implement many of the same
ideas into your own music or even take some of their riffs and tweak
them to fit your style. This is a great way to come up with new
melodies.

Use Music Composition Software
Music composition software can be a musician's best friend. These
programs aid in the writing process by organizing your work and allow
you to see what you're playing. Quality software packages provide
features including a metronome to keep beat, playback, so you can listen
to what you've composed, input, so you can hook your instrument or
microphone directly to your computer and notate a song you play or sing
and tons of editing tools so you can easily compose a riff.

Look for Musical Inspiration

Before writing a piece of music, it's critical to feed your mind
inspiration. Inspiration comes from all around us: our emotions,
relationships, nature, people and experiences-some songs are even about
surreal situations. A big part of finding inspiration is putting
yourself in situations that rouse inspiration and then recognize it when
it comes.

We all have different people come into our lives; relationships
have always been hot topic for songwriters. To generate other ideas get
out of the house, go somewhere, and do something. This could even be
something as simple as walking in the park or down the street. You'll be
amazed where inspiration can be found.

Have Fun
You first started writing music because you love music. If you're
not enjoying composing music, then do something else for a while. People
tend to do what they love best.

There is No Wrong Answer in Music Composition
Writing music is one of those things you can do and never make a
mistake. Some melodies are catchier than others are, and everyone will
write some bad stanzas. It's all right; that's why we have revisions.
Remember this while writing music: it will make you feel better and help
you avoid writer's block.

Define Your Music Composition GoalAre you writing music for yourself or for other people? This
alone will totally change the tone and style of your music. If you are
writing for yourself, you have more freedom to write what and how you
want.

In contrast, if you are writing for other people, it is a good
idea to identify your target audience and write music they will enjoy.

Seek Advice and Opinions
People are always willing to give advice and opinions; take their
comments into consideration when writing music. Give your music to
family members and friends to get their opinion of your songs. Though
people close to you may be biased, their comments are still valuable.

Do Something Different
It's easy to get stuck in a rut and all of your songs begin to sound
the same. Even if you've found a great combination of notes or a catchy
beat, changing it can be good and help you grow as a composer.

An easy way to try something new is pick up an instrument you
haven't played before. Sometimes you find yourself playing the same old
keys or strumming the same chords on your guitar. A different instrument
can lead you to melodies you may not have thought of otherwise.

Practice, Practice and More Practice
There is no substitute for hard work and practice-it is the only
formula that will guarantee you will become a better songwriter.